What a great night we had at Worcester last night with Viking Mistress winning in fantastic style for the first time and delighting the huge crowd of Martin Keighley Racing Club members who were there to support her. With Andrew Tinkler claimed to ride another horse in the race we found an able deputy in two times Champion Jockey Richard Johnson and he gave her an absolute peach of a ride although maybe won a little too far as he didn’t realise how far clear he’d pulled!
Some of the Club Members must have backed her too as she was apparently available at odds of around 12-1 or 10-1 earlier in the day but was sent off favourite. I do know one member who was seen leaving Worcester with enlarged pockets!! Fantastic well done to all and much deserved for this super mare who just seemed to bump into a handicap good thing on too many occasions last season.
A lovely email was received this morning from one of our Members replying to us and Paul Davis who runs the Club superbly and provides members with detailed race reports often not long after the horses have crossed the line;
“Thanks for the report, brilliant as ever. Fantastic night at our local track. A truly exciting occasion.
We had experienced the delight of greeting a club winner as you know with Buckle Street at Southwell but what made last night better for us that were a lot of club members were there and able to enjoy the thrill.
We lit up the paddock with a spontaneous “Cheltenham cheer” as she came back in.
Full marks to Martin and the team for getting her there in tip top condition and looking fantastic. Not forgetting Dickie Johnson for a masterful ride, as someone remarked “that’s why he is champion jockey”
Our Racing Club has been a real success story and we are thrilled to have had another winner for members who have enjoyed such a fun filled few months.
This morning Simon Walker and wife Julie brought a couple of friends to the yard for the first time to congratulate Viking Mistress and to watch the horses on the gallops. A winner is always a good excuse to get the fizz out so they enjoyed bacon sandwiches, croissants and bucks fizz/champagne in our owners’ room whilst we watched the race again – and yes she still wins easily!
Ollie and Irene Ryan called in late morning for a catch up as they’d been to a wedding locally yesterday and had missed the Worcester winner too – more champagne! We walked around the fields and caught up with their very special Cheltenham winner, Brillare Momento, our latest addition to our Cheltenham Winners’ Board that graces the yard entrance. She is on her summer holidays with Champion Court and they had plenty of cuddles and photos!
11 year old Jack Lander brought his pony Annie to ride up the gallops with Freddie on his new pony Bubbles. Always great to see Jack and parents Darren & Alison were kind enough to bring him and his pony to help Freddie, who isn’t the bravest yet! They had a fun time and Jack passed on plenty of help and advice to Freddie who clearly looks up to him and, as such, Freddie definitely ended up going the fastest he’s been so far and returned with a smile so thanks to Jack. He’s a remarkable young lad who is doing another Injured Jockeys’ Fund Walk this summer (after raising over £13,000 2 years ago in a similar fundraiser) this time walking from Newmarket to Jack Berry House over about six days. Hats off to him (& his parents!) and we added to his funds as a thank you for his jockey coaching today!